Clutch



y April 30, l929- c. F. ANDERSON ET AL 1,711,338

CLUTCH Filed Fei). 8, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 April 30, 1929- c. F. ANDERSON r-:T AL 1,711,338v

' CLUTCH Filed Febl 8', 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

rasees am. se, i929.

uirsnsrarss "PATENT oFFic.

CARL F; ANDERSON, OF BROKFIELD, AND RUDOLPH W'. ANDA, OE CICERO, ILLINOIS,

ILLINOIS.

CFF CCERO, ILLINOIS, .A CORPORATION OF CLUTCH.

Application filed February 8, 1926; `Serial No. 86,701.

Uur invention relates to clutches and it incorporates several features in the construction, operation and control.

@ne of the in'iportantl features of the invention resides in the improved 'driving mechanism between a driving shaft and the parts driven thereby, the driving mechanism of our invention being designed to'grtiduallyl and smoothly pick up and take on the load, this gradual and smooth clutching oi' the drive shalt to the parts driven thereby entirely eliminating sudden jerky and jarring movements.

Another important fea-ture is to cause the gradual clutch mechanism to operate also as a governor' to protect the apparatus against injury or breakage Whenever the load becomes too great or any of the driven pa ts are suddenly retained or checked. Our improved clutch mechanism under such conditions will yield or slip and Will not fully clutch until the excess resistance or ob- V struction is removed.

Arnother important Yfeature of our invention resides in the simple control of the clutching mechanism, the operation o1 a single push rod or button causing the continuously operating driving shaft to be either connected with or disconnected from lriving connection with the driven members.

rlhe above features and others are incorporated in the structure shown on the ac-y companying drawings in which drawings-'- Figure 1 is a sectional view through the clutch housing and associated parts, looking down on the clutch;

Figure 2 is an enlarged side elevational view of the clutch mechanism and the controlling mechanism therefor;

Figure 8 an enlarged end vieW on plane 3 3, Figure 1;

Figure i is an elevational lview partly in sectiony on planea-, Figure 5; `and Figure 5 is a sectional view on plane 5 5, Figure d. y

By Way of example, We Will describe our clutch as used With a Washing machine.

The n'iachine shown comprises a cylindrical sheet metal tank 1 reinforced by a'loWer band fl. The tank is mounted on lar legs tivo of which 5, and 6 are shown.

rlhe clutch and drive mechanism is accommodated Within a housing 8 suspended from around the outer edge of the endrBO.

tubuthe bottom of the machine frame in any suitable manner. A driving Vmotor 11 is suspended from the machine trame and' its armature shaft 12 extends intothe housing 8. Alongside of this housing is an auxiliary housing 12 for various transmission gears, the transmission pinion 18 Within said auxiliary housing being mounted on a shaft l/l which extends into the housing 8 in register with the armature shait't to be coupled theretov by a coupling member l5. The pinion 13 meshes With the gear 16 Which is journaled in the housing 12l concentric With the pinion 17 which meshes with the gear 18 Within theohousing 12 and this geary is secured on the rshaft 19 extending into the housing 8 andat its other end terminating in a gear box-20 supported on the leg 6 of the machine :in Which gear box there are beveled gears (not shown) and from which a shaft extends upwardly for operating a Wringer. f

The inner end ofthe' shaft 19 extends into and is secured to a hub 22, and on this hub is journaled the clutch disc or drum 23 ywhich is held in place thereon by the end ythe radial arm 26 with the end section 27 deflected laterally to overhang the clutch disc 23. A. clutch band 28 surrounds the clutch disc and is secured at one end [to the extension 27 as by means of rivets 29. The other end 30 o1 the clutch band is vdeflected radially and has the hole 31- for receiving the holtv 32. A Washer 33 is applied to the end 30 to stiften it and the Washer isilocked against rotation by its end 33 Which extends A compression spring 34 abuts against the Washer and the nut 35 on the threaded outer end of the bolt. At its inner end the bolt terminates in a stirrup head 36 Which extends into the slot 37 formed radially in the deflected end 27 ci the arm 26. Extending through and journalledin the end 27 is the cam cylinder 38, this cylinder extending through the slot 37 right angles thereto. rlhe cam cylinder has the opposite radially extending slots or recesses 39 and 410 Which register 'with the slot or pocket 37 and With the stirrup head 86 of the cam bolt 32. Cutting the slots in the cam cylinder will leave the cam section ll. The cani section ll has the arcuate sides i2 and i3 concentric with the cam cylinder axis and which. may be coincident With the eircunlferent'al sui-tace et' cain cylinder, as shown in Figures land 5.

The spring 34 so adjusted by ineaney et the nut 35 that when the cani section ell in alineinent with the holt 32 and one cli i arcuate sides enga against the stirrup har 36 oit the holt, the holt will he pulled ai the spring compressed te draw the ends oi the hand will exert friction or clutching engagement against the clutch disc 28. However, When the eain cylinder rotated 900 and one or the other et the slots 39 and il() is presented te the cani bar 36, the bolt wih be released and the spring pressure will he removed trein the clutch band 28 and tn elasticity of the clutch hand Will can i to release itself frein trictional engagement with the clutch dise its will presen J he describeeh the clutch disc connecte-il with the mechanism lier operating the wr 'liing` device Within the tank et the inachine.

The hub structure teg-. their with the clutch hand and controlling cain inechanisni is centinuously rotated by the inoter and the retation el" the clutch dise 225 is controlled hy the engagement el the clutch hand therewith.

Elticient and conveniently centroiled means is provieed ter controlling the setting oli the eain mechanism 'tor either clutching or unelutching engagement et the clutch hand with the clutch disc. Secured te one end of the cani cylinder 38 is the star wheel 4A having four aiins spaced 900 apart.'

Through the opposite Ynd ot' the cani cylinder extends a pin 45 'tor engaging in latch notches i6 extending radiali)7 in the part 27 and spaced 900 apart, the pin heing heid in latching engagement in a notch hy incans" oit a spring lle" inserted 1etween the part 27 and the star .vheel, as clearly shown in Figure 5, The locations of the notches are such that the cani cylinder will lat-ehed against retaticn Whenever the i i'up bar 36 is in contact with either oli the sides l2 and l?,h oit thecain section ell er is Within either one oi' the notches 39 and 40. Thus the clutch hand will be locked either in clutching` or unclutching position rela-I tive to the clutch disc 235 and as the star wheel is successively advanced 900 the clutch disc 23 will either ee clutched or in'iclutched opening 49 and 'ferme i 4f?. El/iis hell crank Y brac e 50 extending cure(L te the l v fitting which forcing hand el et inner arni cit the he upwardly ad acent llilhen t ie bell er wise direction he raised to e1 .f

te p

rllhe Y extends hetteui.

i the leg` 5 Wiien the ree pushed dovA the lever will be iet; he

opposite direct-ien te the' sheivn. A latch spring 552 ne and has the rid; `he lever in either ef its positie tion pesi' ve.5Y changed,

Extending ioni the inner arni el' the hell crank lever is the red .Eel wh se other end is connected tejthe radial arin 55 el thel trip inger 56 which is pivoteil by ineaiis et the shalt 57. rllie linger the curved abutinent end 58 in ene position ot' the linger, is in e et the points et' the star Wheel as such Wheel is carried around e clutch band mechanism in the direc* tion et the arr-ini' siiewn en Figure Ll, and in another pegsiion eil' the linge" this end Will he reinoifed trein the path etlA the atar Wheel. ln the ar angenient showin when the push red l? is depressed, the il cranl lever et@ will he rotated te exert i, ill on and to swing the linger eG te carry its end l' i the star irl ie lingei inte the path oi' i the Wheel.

red 54e renieved frein the A)ath o i by ineens et a cani Wing 59 exten ing trein the radial ai' n 2G in pofi'tf t ellow the star vflieel as the radial arin L lves With the clutch lis-nd iisin. ln

et the pa' arni et li f i finger eifl. .'Tlien the nnger is thus swung to inoigierative position? the hell crank lever 48 Will he tated te the push red to its up; p on and such pesitfen will he maint nef1 vi t 03 eiigagine cr nii ever. in the arrar the cain mechanism i1* set te cause the cluthA band 'te engag the clutch di c and the i'nger 5G is held out ci the path el' the star vliecl.

and therefore, such clutching engfigeinei Will continue until the operator de nesses the push red i7 this will result ir swinging of 'the i: nte operative pe tien to he enga l star Wheel as shown in detteil 4;. rllhe star Wheel will then ae which will permit the stirrupbar of the stirrup bolt to engage in one ofthe notches 39 or 40 and the clutch band will be released. Immediately after the star` wheel has been rotated 900 to effect unclutching, the cam wing will engage with the linger and throw it to inoperative position and then the clutch disc 23 and washing machine apparatus connected therewith will remain at rest until the push rod again depressed and the linger moved to cause another 900 advance of the star wheel. Y

Our improved clutch mechanism is adaptable for use in ditl'erent types of machines, but for purposes of description is shown as applied to a washing machine of the dolly or agitator type, the doll)7 of which is operated by a shaft 61.

The lower end of shaft 61 extends into the housing 8 and there terminates in a mitre pinion 70. This pinion meshes withk lthe segmental gear 7l .at the upper end :of

a rock lever 72 which is pivoted at its lower end in the bottom of the housing S. The rock lever extends up alongside of the clutch dise 23 and has the guideway or channel 7 5 for the crank pin 76 extending from the clutch disc 23 so that when the clutch disc revolves the lever 72 will be rockedand its gear segment 7l will, by engaging with the pinion 70, impart rotary oscillation to the dolly shaft 6 1 p Having described o-ur invention, we claim as follows l. In combination, a clutch drum, a clutch band surrounding said drum, a rotatablesupport to which said clutch band is se-` cured to travel therewith, a link having yielding connection with onel Vend of the clutch band, a cam member on said support having engagement with. vthe other endy of said link, said cam meinberkin one position causing said link to draw the clutch band into clutching engagement with said drum and in another position permitting said link to release the clutch band from clutching engagement, and means controlling the operation of said cam member.

2. In combination, a clutch disc, a. clutch band surrounding said disc, a rotatable support to which one end of said band is secured, a link yieldingly connected at one end to the other end of said band, a cam on said support connected to the other end of the link and adapted when moved to one position to cause saidlink to draw the band into clutching engagement with said disc and when moved to another position to re lease said link, said link being adjustable, and ine-ans controlling the movement of said cam.

3. In combination, a clutch disc, a support revolvable about the axis of said disc, a clutch band surrounding said disc and secured at one end to said revolvable support,

a link having yieldable connection with the free end of vsaid band, a rotatable cam on said support cooperating with the other end of said link, said cam when rotated to oneposition causing movement of said link in one direction and contraction of the clutch band into clutching engagement with said disc and when moved to another position releasing said link to permit expansion of said band, and means kcontrolling the rotation of said cam. y

.Incombination a clutch disc, a driving shaft, a driving arm connected with said shaft, a clutchrv band encircling said disc and connected at one end to said driving arm, an elastic link extending ybetween said arm and the'other end of said band, said link nor- .inally permitting release of said band from said disc, and cam mechanism carried by the arm and .operable to vcontract sai-l link to thereby cause clutching engagement of said band with said dies.

5. In combination a clutch disc,`a clutch band surrounding said disc, a revolving member to` which one end ofsaid band is secured to travel therewith, a link having yielding connection with the otherend of the band, a setting member cooperating with said link, said setting member being mounted on said revolving member and being adapted for fractionalV rotational advancement,v means whereby said setting member when rotated will set the link for causing either driving engagement with, or release` of said band from, said clutch disc, and means inthe path of said setting member for Causing one advancement thereof for each revolution of said revolving member.

6. In combination a clutch disc, a clutch band surrounding said' disc, revolving member to whieh'one end of said band is secured to travel therewith, a link having yielding connection :with the other end of the band, a setting member cooperating with said link, said setting member being niounted on said revolving member and beingv 7. In combination a clutch disc, a sup` porting frame adapted to revolve about the axis of said clutch disc, a clutch band sc-r cured atvone end to said `frame and surrounding said disc, a clutch link extending from said frame to the other end of said band and having spring abutment engagement with such end, a cam member on saidv imV frame having cam forn'iations adapted to alternately set said link for clutching said band to the disc or for releasing it therefrom, and means cooperating with said cam during its bodily movement with said frame for moving it to either one of its operative positions whereby said clutch dise will be either connected in driving relation with said revolving "rame or be disconnected therefrom.

S. ln combination a clutch fisc, a frame revolving about the axis of said disc, a clutch band secured at one end to said frame and surrounding said disc, a link connected between the free end of said band and said frame, a rotatable cam on said frame having cam formations for cooperating with said link to cause clutching engagement of said band with said disc or release therefrom, a star wheel on said cam, an abutment adapted to be interposed in the path of said wheel during bodily travel thereof with said frame and tending to cause a rotational advance of said wheel for each revolution of said frame, and means for removing said abutment after an abutting operation thereof whereby the set position of said wheel will be maintained.

9. In combination a clutch disc, a revolving frame, a clutch band secured at one end to said frame and encircling said disc, a link between the other end of said band and said frame, a rotatable setting member cooperating with said link to cause contraction or cxpan sion of the band and. thereby clutching of said band to said disc or release of the band from the disc, a star wheel on said setting member, an abutment, means for interposing the abutment in the path of said wheel to engage therewith and cause a rotation of advance thereof and of the setting member connected therewith, and means carried on said frame for removing the abutment from the path of said wheel after an advancement of said wheel by said abutment.

10. In combination a clutch disc, a frame revolving' about the axis of said disc, a clutch band secured at one end to said frame and encircling said disc, a link extending between the other end of said band and said frame, setting mechanism for said link adapted to be fractionally advanced to alternately cause said link to clutch said band to said disc and to release it therefrom, an abutment, a push rod, a connection between said rod and abutment adapted upon depression of said rod to cause movement of said abutment into the path of said setting n'iechanism to abut therewith and cause a rotational advancement thereof, Vand a` cam wing on said frame adapted to shift said abutment from the path of said setting mechanism aft-er an actuation of said setting mechanism.

l1. In combinationa clutch disc, a frame revolvable about the axis of said disc, a clutch band secured at one end to said framev and encircling said disc, a link having a yielding connection at the other end of said band and at its inner end having a cani abutment, a rotatable cam member on said frame having cam formations spaced equally circuniferentially, saidr cam member when rotated from one cam formation to the other causing said link to alternately shift to engage the clutch band with said disc and to release the link permit unclutching of said band, a star wheel on said cam member, an abutment linger, a push rod, a connection between said push rod and said linger adapted upon depression of said rod to move said linger into t-he path of said star wheel whereby said wheel and said cam member will be advanced to effect-'the setting of said link, and a wing on said frame adapted to engage with and remove said linger from the path of said wheel after said wheel is advanced.

l2. In combination a clutch disc, a frame revolvable about the axis of said disc, a clutch band secured at one end to said frame and encircling said disc, a link having yieldable connection with the other end of said band and terminating at its inner end in a cam abutment, a cam rotatable on said frame and having cam formations uniformly sp ced circuInferentially whereby said link will be set either to draw said band into clutching enga-gement with said disc or to release said band therefrom, a star wheel on said cam, an abutment linger, a push rod, a connecting train below the lower end of said rod and said linger adapted upon depression of said rod to cause said linger t-o be shifted into the path of said star wheel to be abutted thereby and whereby said wheel will advance saidv cam to the next cam formation to cause corresponding setting of the link and clutch band, and a wing on said frame adapted to remove said linger from the path of said cam wheel after an advance of said wheel whereby the link setting will be maintained.

13. In combination, a drive member, a driven member, an arm secured on the drive member for rotation therewith, a clutch band extending about the driven member and having one end secured to the arm, a link yieldingly connected to the other end of the band, a cam connect-ion between the link and the arm, an actuating n'ieinber operatively connected to the cam element of said connection, and a trip member movable into and out of the path of tra-vel of the actuating member.

lll. In combination, a drive member, a driven member, an arm secured on the drive member for rotation therewith, a clutch band extending about the driven member and having one end secured to the arm, a

linl` yeldngly connected to the other end of having (zo-operating' means for yeldingly the band, e cani Connection between the link locking the eem element in adjustment.

and the arm, an actuating member opera- In Witness whereof, We hereunto sub-V10 tively connected to the cam element of said scribe our names this 2nd day of February,

J connection, end a trip member movable into 1926.

and out of the path of travel of the aetuat- CARL F. ANDERSON. ing member, the arm and the cam connection RUDOLPH W. JANDA. 

